Compare And Contrast The Theory Of The King's Two Bodies
Post Discussion #1
1. Theory of the King’s Two Bodies, Puns and Equivocations and Primogeniture
Theory of the King’s two bodies was a theory that the crowned head, for this it would be Queen Elizabeth, was divided into two the mortal body and the immortal body. The mortal body being “the body natural” which was subject to the failings of human flesh and eventual death and the immortal body being the “body politic” which is seen as timeless and perfect (Greenblatt 20). This is helpful in understanding the concept of the phrase “long live the queen/ long live the king” meaning the immortal body of the crown living immortally and passing the crown onto the next living heir. But with Queen Elizabeth, there was no living heir because she had not …show more content…
I think it is important to also discuss the additional amount of pressure amongst the townsfolk and players within London at the time. There is the discussion of the King's Men and the Chamberlain's Men, who were in good terms with the aristocracy at the time, but there isn't as much emphasis on the looming fate of the players and playwrights if something was deemed unfit or too bold by the Master of Revels. There was a sense of fear amongst the arts to stay in line with what the censors would allow them to say. But if they slipped up or wrote something they shouldn't, their lives and careers would be in danger. Shakespeare in particular was able to write a little more freely due to his position within the King’s men and his relationship with the monarchy. But he was one of many playwrights and his acting troupe was just one of the groups of men performing at the time. Other troupes would travel from town to town, and sometimes were denied permission to perform due to their content or the fact that they would be distracting the town members from their duties and responsibilities. A lot of the arts at the time were observed under certain limitations and extreme censorship. This is slightly highlighted within the terms for this section but not as greatly discussed for other troupes and playwrights besides Shakespeare. This is important for understanding Shakespeare’s pieces because of his position amongst the Kings Men. Compared to other playwrights and players that were scrutinized more intensely due to their positions outside of the monarchies reigns, therefore they were watched and censored more than Shakespeare would have been at the time. If he wasn't amongst the few selected to be apart of the King's Men he may not of been able to write many of the pieces that he
1. Theory of the King’s Two Bodies, Puns and Equivocations and Primogeniture
Theory of the King’s two bodies was a theory that the crowned head, for this it would be Queen Elizabeth, was divided into two the mortal body and the immortal body. The mortal body being “the body natural” which was subject to the failings of human flesh and eventual death and the immortal body being the “body politic” which is seen as timeless and perfect (Greenblatt 20). This is helpful in understanding the concept of the phrase “long live the queen/ long live the king” meaning the immortal body of the crown living immortally and passing the crown onto the next living heir. But with Queen Elizabeth, there was no living heir because she had not …show more content…
I think it is important to also discuss the additional amount of pressure amongst the townsfolk and players within London at the time. There is the discussion of the King's Men and the Chamberlain's Men, who were in good terms with the aristocracy at the time, but there isn't as much emphasis on the looming fate of the players and playwrights if something was deemed unfit or too bold by the Master of Revels. There was a sense of fear amongst the arts to stay in line with what the censors would allow them to say. But if they slipped up or wrote something they shouldn't, their lives and careers would be in danger. Shakespeare in particular was able to write a little more freely due to his position within the King’s men and his relationship with the monarchy. But he was one of many playwrights and his acting troupe was just one of the groups of men performing at the time. Other troupes would travel from town to town, and sometimes were denied permission to perform due to their content or the fact that they would be distracting the town members from their duties and responsibilities. A lot of the arts at the time were observed under certain limitations and extreme censorship. This is slightly highlighted within the terms for this section but not as greatly discussed for other troupes and playwrights besides Shakespeare. This is important for understanding Shakespeare’s pieces because of his position amongst the Kings Men. Compared to other playwrights and players that were scrutinized more intensely due to their positions outside of the monarchies reigns, therefore they were watched and censored more than Shakespeare would have been at the time. If he wasn't amongst the few selected to be apart of the King's Men he may not of been able to write many of the pieces that he